In the Wild: Bitcoin Billboards

The organization behind the sign, Arise Bitcoin, says its mission is “to start, support, and execute projects that promote the awareness of bitcoin to the general public.” It claims to have posted more than 40 billboardsthroughout the Bay Area since December 27, 2013. (According to Arise Bitcoin’s Twitter bio, the organization is based in Cleveland, Ohio.)

Another organization, BitcoinBillboards, has posted billboards in Los Angeles. According to the BitcoinBillboards website, “QR codes do work on billboards! And … QR codes do work to send Bitcoins. PLEASE use common sense and do not attempt to scan while driving!”

Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. Image from BitcoinBillboards.

Bitcoin, in case you haven’t beenreading my blog, is the virtual currency (or cryptocurrency, or altcoin) invented in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. The value of one bitcoin was about $900 yesterday.

Bitcoin’s popularity has inspired as many as 70 rival altcoins, according to a Bloomberg.com report. They include Coinye(named for singer Kanye West), Dogecoin (named for the doge meme), and RonPaulCoin, named for the libertarian former presidential candidate.